WORLD CROWNS      Mexico - Cap and Rays 8 Reales 1824 to 1897

    Counterfeit 8 Reales

       In the 20 + years of collecting this series, I had become aware of a handful of counterfeits, including the piece below,
which I now learn from a scholar of the subject was identified in an 1845 monograph as Riddell # 215.

 The broad variety of counterfeits in this series runs the gamut in terms of design, composition and place of origin including:
         - Base metal and debased silver coins struck for a profit in Mexico or elsewhere;
         - “Full” composition struck in the United States for Oriental trade;
         - Dies fabricated from “official” elements, such as the eagle;
         - Dies which “escaped” from the mint with a complete date;
         - Dies which “escaped” from the mint the three digits, the fourth being added by the counterfeiter;
         - Coins made in Mexico;
         - Coins made in the United States.

       John Leonard Riddell (Riddell # 237) in  his 1845 work “A Monograph of the Silver Dollar,: Good and Bad.
 Illustrated with Facsimile Figures", identified hundreds of counterfeit 8 reales pieces.  A minute sampling
appears herein.. This work was reprinted in the 1960s

         The information on this page appears courtesy of a scholar of the subject of  counterfeit coinage.
   

Riddell # 415.
   This piece, now in a study collection. is an identical die match for the Riddell # 215. It is slightly lighter in weight than Riddell's specimen
- this one is 26.7 grams and his was 27.0 grams.
    Riddell's specimen was 0.255 fine silver, this piece may be closer to pure copper  based on its appearance.
       This piece shows  details that are not visible on the Riddell plate like the star in front of the denomination and
some of the buttons on the individual cactus pads.
       It also clearly shows how the die was cut to apply the feathers to the eagle. The feathers were applied by using a drill or a round punch.


 



Riddell # 221 (below)
   This piece, now in a study collection. is an identical die match for the Riddell # 221, a member of the the "broken toe"
family of counterfeit coins. Riddel quoted  a 0.063 % silver content. This piece  appears to have possibly be re-plated to
pass a second time, perhaps by a banker or merchant that didn't want to be stiffed?

  This family of forgeies traces to the northeast US. There is no agreement on the exact location of manufacture.  
Dies for one of these coins were reported to have been  found in the estate of an Attleborough, Mass jewler.

  An astounding number of examples found in New England or that trace back to New England or members of this
family is truly astounding seem to confiirm the  New England origin.  The only factor working against the NE origin
is that Riddell in New Orleans also reports the forgery as extremely common.


Riddell # 237
This piece dated 1834 Zs MO was in my collection for years, presumed genuine. I now have it on good authority that this piece
was identified by John Leonard Riddell (Riddell # 237) in  his 1845 work “A Monograph of the Silver Dollar,: Good and Bad.
 Illustrated with Facsimile Figures”.